The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-03-10
ADARING RAID.
A Thrilling Episode OF the Civil
War RetOld.

A Thrilling Episode ofthe Civil
War Retold.
How the Mitchell Raiders Undertook a
Desperate Job and Failed.
A chapter of the war, one Of the most
thrilling and pathetic stories Of adven-
ture ever written, is revived in a report
made to the last House of Representa-
tives, by the committee on pensions.
The bill on which the report is founded
was to extend tho provisions of certain
act granting an increase of pension to
the only survivors of the Mitchell reid
ers. In April, 1862, General Q.
Mitchell had advanced his column as far
south as Shelbyville, Tenn. On the
west the battle of Shiloh had just been
determined in favor of the Union arms.
At the east Mcclellan was threatening
an advance upon Richmond. Opposed to
these two armies the South had con
centrated their full strength. The
Importance of seizing and holding Chat
tanooga as a strategic point on the great
railroad line between the east and west
was deemed vital. The mitchell raid
ers," body of men twenty one in mum.
Der, under command of J. Andrews,
were selected by General Mitchell to
undertake the desperate enterprise of
penetrating 200 miles south into the
heart of the enemys country to endeavor
to destroy the railroad bridges between
Chattanooga and Atlanta. If successful
this would cut off the advance Of troops
of the South while Mitchell moved his
army down to capture Chattanooga. The
soldiers of this forlorn hope, dressed in
citizens clothes, set out by twos and
threes to meet at Marietta, Ga. Their
plan was to take passage on some north
bound train, overpowcr the guard, seize
the engine, and burn bridges and tear
up tracks behind them as they dashed
along.
The first part of the programme was
successful. While the train was stopped
for breakfast, leaving the engine un-
guarded, at signal the raiders, who
had bought tickets and been travel
ing as ordinary passengers, sprang into
the cab, pulled the valve open, and
drew out with an engine, tender and
three cars. A few moments placed the cx-
ulting party beyond any seeming danger of
successful pursuit, because there was no
telegraph and no other engine at hand.
Unf ortunatcly, however, Mitchc!rs ad-
vance had alarmed the Sou.hcrncrs and
the rolling stock about Chattanooga had
been ordered South, out of danger. The
forlorn hope on the captured train were
met by these trains. Andrews in charge
of the party, represented himself as a
Confederate officer who had impressed
the train for military purposes, and he
succeeded in allaying all suspicion, but
was compelled to wait many minutes,
losing precious time, while extra trains
were passing. The conductor of the
captured train was man of great action
and energy, and without waiting for his
breakfast, lie started out on foot in pur-
suit. BY some evil fate he reached a
hand-car, and after travelling a while
succeeded in getting locomotive from
q private track. When the raiders dis
covered that they were being pursued, a
desperate chase cnsued, preventing the
slightest chance for any destructive
work. After run of 100 miles, the
captured locomotive had to be aban-
doned, while the Union soldiers scat.
tered through the woods.
The pursuit was relentless, and the
whole party was captured after enduring
terrible suiferings. They were denounced
as spies, chained together by twos by
the neck, and thrust into dungeon in
Chattanooga. The twenty one men
were confined for three weeks in an
apartment thirteen feet square, without
the slightest accommodation and with
but scant provision. When released
for trial from the dark and noisomc
prison cell they were so blinded by the
light of day that for hours they could
not sec. Andrews, the leader, was
hanged as spy. The rest were removed
to Atlanta, where several more were
hanged as spies. One man was given
100 lashcs on his bare back and the bal.
ancc were pu, back into prison. at The
end of six months several had died, and
after eleven months the few survivors
were released by exchange. The extra
ordinary enterprise in which these mcr
engaged, the dangers they incurred and
their galantry and devotion TO the
Union cause entitled them to rccogni
tion. All but four of them arc receiving
pensions under the general law. The
others provided for by the bill arc
William Knight, Jacob Parrott, William
Reddick and John Whollom. - Chicago
| Herald.
Birthplace of Abraham.
Not far from Alcppo is situated thu
| little town of Orfah (thc ancient Ur o.